Maternity girdle and abdominal support



Dec. 9, 1941. M. MARSHALL MATERNITY GIRDLE AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed May 17, 1940 3nnentor M AR 5 HA-LL LII-LII: MARSDEN I mm (Ittorneg Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATERNITY GIRDLE AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Lillie Marsden Marshall, Washington, D. 0.

Application May 1'7, 1940, Serial No. 335,686

2 Claims.

said panel being fashioned to provide a concavity on the inner surface thereof conforming approximately to the curvature of the abdomen of the wearer, together with side and rear belt members or portions associated with said panel in such manner as to exert tension on said panel laterally and upwardly of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the girdle of the character hereinbefore described and readily capable of being associated .if desired with a rear panel adapted to compress and confine posterior portions of the wearers body.

The above objects of the invention and other obj ects not specifically referred to but hereinafter appearing are accomplished in the belts or girdles hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a maternity girdle or abdominal belt or support embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the belt or girdle illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the abdominal belt or girdle l embodying the present invention comprises, as here shown, a front panel l2 which is composed of soft fabric and which is fashioned to provide a concavity on the inner surface of the panel conforming approximately to the curvature of the abdomen of the wearer both laterally and longitudinally of the latter. Panel [2 is continuous from end to end and comprises an outer layer [4 of inextensible fabric such as silk or any other suitable material and an inner layer l5 coextensive with outer layer l4 and composed of soft fabric such as, for example, flannel. For fashioning panel I2 40 bone or stay 54.

layer 14 is composed of laterally extending sections l6, -l8 and 20, the opposite side edges of section 18 being convex and stitched to the adjacent convex edges of panel sections l6 and 20 by lines of stitching 22 and 24, respectively. The inner layer l5 of the panel is similarly formed of sections 26, 28 and 30, intermediate section 28 having convex side edges secured to the adjacent convex side edges of sections 26 and 30, respecl0 tively, by seams 32 and 34, respectively. As the sections of both layers of the panel are wider in the central portions thereof than at the ends thereof and as the edges which are stitched together are convex the panel is thus fashioned with 15 a concavity on its inner surface designed to conform as hereinbefore stated approximately to the curvature of the wearers abdomen. The edges of panel I4 at the opposite ends thereof are inclined toward each other in an upward direction and at .20 said edges the panel is provided with end sections 36 and 38 provided with lacing eyelets 40. Also, a stiffening bone or stay 42 is disposed in each of sections 36 and 38 adjacent the companion row of eyelets 40.

Side and rear members 44 and 46 are attached at the opposite ends, respectively, of panel I2 and as clearly shown in the drawing (Figs. 1 and 2) extend laterally and upwardly of said panel. Said side and rear members 44 and 46 comprise portions 48 of elastic material such as elastic webbing which is preferably elastic in a direction laterally or circumferentially of the wearer and inelastic in a longitudinal direction. The end sections 50 of inextensible material are stitched to the inner edges of elastic portions 48 and are provided with eyelets 52 for the lacing whereby said side and rear members are adjustably attached in respect to panel [2. Also, sections 50 are preferably each provided with a stiffening The outer portions 56 and 58 of members 44 and 46, respectively, are formed of inextensible fabric and are stitched to companion elastic portions 48, and the outer edges of sections 56 and 58 are provided with separable fastener members here shown as hooks 60 on section 56 and eyes 62 on section 58. Also, said sections 56 and 58 are each preferably provided with stiffening bones or stays 64.

Flaps 66 are stitched to panel I2 and more particularly to the end sections 35 and 38 of the latter on the inner surface of the panel in position to overly the adjacent sections of said panel and said side and rear members 44 and 46, respectively. As here shown, the belt or girdle ID with the concavity as referred to above, outer is provided with garter tabs 68 and 10 secured to the lower edge portions of panel l2 and side members 44 and 46, respectively.

It will be observed that the edges of members 44 and 46 at their ends adjacent the upwardly inclined edges of 'panel [2 are also upwardly inclined toward each other and that the tension exerted by members 44 and 46, when fastened together at the back of the wearer,

is directed upwardly and laterally of panel 12 The belt or girdle is thus constructed so that the front panel l2 thereof is tensioned in such manner as to provide a mild and beneficial upotherwise than as here shown and that in the illustrated forms, certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1, An abdominal belt or girdle comprising a front panel having a plurality of sections ar- "ranged to extend laterally of the wearer, each lift effect on the wearers abdomen. As mem 1 bers 44 and as are adjustably attached to the lacing as shown and above described; the girth" of the girdle can be increased; as desired; withof said sections extending continuously from one *e'ifi dofthepanel to the other, and having convex out increasing the tension on panel l2 or th'e pressure thereof on the wearers'abdomen;

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 the girdle or abdominal support Illa .is provided with a anel 12a of thesame eonst'mcnodes the pa'ne1 IQ of gil'dlflfl bllt as here shown the rear portion or the giI dIB ofn'pris'es areal panel 12'of an'yisuitabl'e fabrid 'whih 'rnay "be elasticas desired laterally or-lbngitildinally "being attachedfdir'ectl'y to Secti'oris B'B and 138;

respectively, of pane-1712a are fastened to sections 74 10f rear panel '12 preferably by being stitched thereto. A'R'ea'r and sid'e member "44a --and 46a coact with panel IZa-in substantially the same way as members Hand 46 :br panel 'I 2, that is, said members-when 'fasterfed together at the back of the wearer exert 'a tension on panel I'2a laterally and upwardly of the .toiprovi'dea "mild upli'ft effect on thew ers ab'dom'en. As shown panel-lila-is proviiiled with :g'art'er tabs' l6 secured to' pa'nel 12a afidwith .:garter tabs'lfl'secured to rear paneH-Z WhileI have shown and :describea thepmferredembodiment of my "invention; it wil l lie understood that the. latter -'may be embodied 1 elastic in edirection lateral-1y r the side edges, said sections being stitched together at their adjacent side edges and fashioned to .provide a concavity on the inner surface of the l pan'el conforming approximately to the curva-' ture'fof the abdomen of the wearer, the edges of said panel at the opposite ends thereof inclining towards each other upwardly of the panel, and rear members having side edges at'theirends adjustably laced to said "edges, respectively, of the panel in substantially parallel relation with t-he-par'ieledges}and rhea-n for releasabl'y ing the other ends of said membersto eaeh other under tension thereby to tension'the r rem sailel on the wearer to 'provide'a mild uplift efiect-on bers being substantially as Wide as s'aid"-ban'e1 at's aid efids'of-th-pa'nel; V a V e 2; An abdominal belt or "girdle comprising a rrem panel having fa plurality of ranged to extend laterallyof the or said se'ctions' e'xtenii'ii'ig -bbhtinuod from one e'n'd' of the pane to the other; and having "bhvx "side edges, said 'secltioh's 'lfe'ihgstitl'ied together at their adjacent side' -edges arid' fashioned to provide a concavity ontlie inn rs'urfac'e of the approximately'to the curvtur'e pan l conform of theabdome'n of -the'wearerjthe 'e'dges '6' said panel at the {opposite ends thereof ihelin ward "each other upwardly of 'the p'a nel; 's'id 'd rear members having edges adjustably laced-at. 'their ends to s'a id edges, respective panel" in substantially parallel rela'tid -panel "edgessaid side and 'rear"'-mefn means for releasablysecuri 'rig the ther n said members to each other ur l'dr' te'n sion' 'tliereby to tension the front an-e1 "on" the wearer to i p'rovide a "mild "uplift-"effect 1 on the rel s abdomen.

*EI LIE cur- 7 section ar- 7 mesa-en 

